The Rev. Ronald House in 2005, soon after he became Monroe County's manager of employment services and affirmative action. He has since resigned from that job.

Written by

A bid by the Rev. Ronald House to hold his criminal trial in Rochester instead of Buffalo has been rebuffed by a federal magistrate judge.

Earlier this week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh Scott denied House's request for a Rochester trial. House, for years a prominent anti-violence advocate, took money from criminals while telling them he could secure lenient sentences, federal prosecutors allege.

Federal prosecutors have requested that the trial be held in Buffalo because Rochester-based federal officials, including judges, probation officers and assistant U.S. attorneys, could be ...